Planing machine for underground mining with a cutter in the transition _range from longwall to drift, particularly for a simultaneously _mined drift

Abstract

A mining apparatus comprises a planing device which is movable along a longwall to the drift and has a longwall conveyor which extends alongside it and is deflected into the drift for the removal of the cutaway material. A cutter is operable in the transition between the longwall and the drift and includes a rotatable shaft which is rotatable on a conveyor in the transition between the longwall and the drift and includes an outer arm which carries a rotatable cutting wheel which is moved by the swivel arm through the cutting zone at the transition between the longwall and the drift. The swivel arm is pivotable on a bearing shaft which carries a chain wheel which is driven from a chain drive which operates a plane cutter which is movable along the longwall. The chain drive includes a chain wheel which is rotatable with the bearing shaft and is connected by a separate cutter chain drive which extends through the swivel arm to a chain wheel affixed to the shaft of the cutter wheel.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a mining apparatus comprising a planing device which is movable along a longwall to a drift and has a longwall conveyor extending alongside the longwall deflected into the drift for the removal of cut away material, the improvement comprising a cutter operable in a transition area between the longwall and drift including a first bearing shaft rotatably mounted to the longwall conveyor in the transition area, a swivel arm having an inner end pivotal to said first bearing shaft and swingable in a cutting zone between the drift and the longwall, a second bearing shaft rotatably mounted to said swivel arm and at an outer end thereof, at least one rotatable cutting roll connected to said second bearing shaft and rotatable therewith at said swivel arm outer end for cutting away material in the cutting zone, a cutting roll chain engaged between said first bearing shaft and second bearing shaft to rotate said cutting roll to cut away material in the cutting zone, a plane chain movably mounted with respect to the longwall conveyor and connected to the planing device for moving the planing device along longwall, and a guide roller connected to said first bearing shaft for rotation therewith, said plane chain engaged on said guide roller for rotating said guide roller to rotate said first bearing shaft. 
     
     
       2. In a mining apparatus according to claim 1, including a cam conveyor alongside the longwall conveyor having a material charging end adjacent an intersection of said cutting zone with a planing area along the longwall conveyor acting to deflect material from the cutting zone onto said longwall conveyor. 
     
     
       3. A planing machine according to claim 2, wherein said cam conveyor includes an entrance in the cutting zone and a discharge overlying said longwall conveyor. 
     
     
       4. In a mining apparatus according to claim 1, including a longwall conveyor having a longwall portion and a deflected portion extending into the drift with a corner between said portions and a cam conveyor located in said corner including a charging end disposed in said cutting zone and a discharge end extending to said longwall conveyor and means connected to said longwall conveyor for shifting said swivel arm relative to said longwall conveyor. 
     
     
       5. In a mining apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said means for shifting comprises a double action fluid pressure operated piston and cylinder combination. 
     
     
       6. In a mining apparatus according to claim 1, including a cam conveyor adjacent said swivel arm having a charging end exposed in the cutting range and a discharge end adapted to discharge into the longwall conveyor. 
     
     
       7. In a mining machine according to claim 1, wherein said cam conveyor includes an inclined loading ramp portion at said charging end and a swing bar bracket extending around said cam conveyor from said cutting zone to the transfer end of said cam conveyor, said swing bar bracket being located at the beginning of the cutting range and defining the extent of said cutting range. 
     
     
       8. In a mining apparatus according to claim 1, including a stop disposed adjacent the cutting range in a position to intercept the path of travel of said swivel arm and limit the range of movement thereof. 
     
     
       9. In a mining apparatus according to claim 1, including a first drive chain wheel connected for rotation to said first bearing shaft and a second drive chain wheel connected for rotation to said second bearing shaft, said cutting roll chain engaged over said first and second drive chain wheel. 
     
     
       10. In a mining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said swivel arm is a hollow tubular member, said cutting roll including said second bearing shaft extending through said hollow tubular member and having a cutter drive wheel thereon afixed thereto for rotation therewith, said first bearing shaft having a portion extending through said swivel member and having a driving chain wheel thereon located within said swivel arm hollow portion, and said cutting roll chain extending between said chain wheel and said cutter drive wheel. 
     
     
       11. In a mining apparatus according to claim 1, including separate drive means connected between the longwall conveyor and said swivel arm for swiveling said swivel arm on said first bearing shaft. 
     
     
       12. In a mining apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said separate drive means comprises a double-action piston/cylinder combination connected between said swivel arm and the longwall conveyor. 
     
     
       13. In a mining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cutting roll comprises a plurality of cutter disks and said second bearing shaft carrying all of said cutter disks rotatably mounted on said swivel arm.